How to use NPM Trends to Pick a Javascript Dependency?

Choosing the right JavaScript dependency for your project can be daunting, given the vast number of available packages. npm trends is a valuable tool that helps developers compare the popularity and usage of npm packages over time. By analyzing download statistics, developers can make more informed decisions about which dependencies to adopt.

Understanding npm Trends

npm Trends is a web service that allows you to compare the download statistics of npm packages over time. It provides a simple interface to visualize and compare the popularity of multiple packages, which can be a good indicator of a package's reliability and community support.

Why Popularity Matters

• Community Support: More popular packages typically have a larger community. This means better support, more tutorials, and a greater likelihood of quick issue resolution.
• Regular Updates: Popular packages are often maintained more actively, ensuring they stay up-to-date with the latest features and security patches.
• Proven Reliability: A higher number of downloads can indicate that a package has been tested and trusted by many developers.

Steps to Use npm Trends

Step 1: Access npm Trends: One needs to visit the npm trends website.

Step 2: Enter Packages to Compare: In the search bar, enter the names of the npm packages you want to compare, separated by commas. For example, to compare axios, fetch, and superagent, you would enter: axios, fetch, superagent.

Step 3: Analyze the Graphs: npm Trends will generate a graph showing the download counts of the entered packages over time. This visual comparison helps you see which package is more popular and how their usage trends have evolved.

Step 4: Additional Factors:

• Documentation: Check the documentation of the packages. Well-documented packages are easier to use and integrate.
• Issues and Pull Requests: Look at the number of open issues and pull requests on the package's GitHub repository. A high number of unresolved issues can be a red flag.
• Dependencies: Review the dependencies of the package. Fewer dependencies often mean fewer potential conflicts and smaller bundle sizes.
• Licensing: Ensure the package's license is compatible with your project's needs.

Comparing HTTP Request Libraries

Let's say we need an HTTP request library and are considering axios, node-fetch, and superagent. We'll use npm Trends to compare these three packages.

• Open npm Trends: One can visit the NPM trends website.
• Enter Package Names: Type axios, node-fetch, superagent in the search bar and hit Enter.
• Analyze the Output:
  • In this hypothetical graph, you might see that.
  • axios has a steadily increasing trend with a high number of downloads.
  • node-fetch shows a moderate but consistent increase.
  • superagent has fewer downloads compared to the other two and a relatively stable trend.

Additional Analysis

Documentation:

• axios: Well-documented with clear examples and comprehensive API details.
• node-fetch: Good documentation but slightly less comprehensive than axios.
• superagent: Adequate documentation but not as detailed as axios.

GitHub Activity:

• axios: Active repository with regular commits and numerous contributors.
• node-fetch: Also active, but fewer contributors than axios.
• superagent: Less active in comparison, fewer contributors.

Dependencies:

• axios: Minimal dependencies.
• node-fetch: Few dependencies, mainly core modules.
• superagent: Has more dependencies than the other two.

Example:

• Setup NodeJS App using below command:

npm init -y

• Install the axios package using the below command:

npm install axios

Example: To demonstrate the working of the axio.

const axios = require('axios');

// Making a GET request to an API endpoint
axios.get('https://fakestoreapi.com/products')
    .then(response => {
        console.log(response.data);
    })
    .catch(error => {
        console.error('Error fetching data:', error);
    });

Output: